October Salon Spotlight

By CEWiT

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Each month, CEWiT hosts a Faculty and Ph.D. Salon to provide a venue for faculty and students to network, socialize, and learn more about the research and/or teaching of colleagues across multiple schools and disciplines. In addition to networking time with wine and cheese, select faculty give lightning talks on their topic of research/study.

Angie RaymondAssistant Professor, Department of Business Law and Ethics, Kelley School of Business and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Maurer School of Law

Before speaking at October’s Salon, Angie Raymond had attended others in the past. “I love these,” she said. “They are a great chance to meet people around campus.” At October’s Salon alone, Raymond said she connected with three people who share her similar interests.

Professionally, Raymond is most proud of her impact in real world events and in the lives of others by working to improve access to justice. Outside of work, Raymond enjoys sports and obstacle courses, as well as playing with technology. She wishes others knew “that technology isn’t something to be afraid of,” she said. “It is something that can create huge benefits.”

Amber SimpsonVisiting Research Associate, School of Education

In her time at IU, Amber Simpson conducts research to gain a better understanding of how and when individuals first become interested in science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics (STEM). As part of her research, Simpson says she has the opportunity to interview individuals of all ages, which she enjoys. “I love to hear their stories and am meeting so many interesting people.”

Simpson says she does not consider herself in a technical field, “but more as an educator of a technical field.” She feels her role is that of an outsider looking in, particularly as a researcher. She hopes that in a year from now she will be a faculty member at a university, teaching courses to current and future educators and continuing her STEM research.

Hannah BlockAssistant Professor, Kinesiology and Neuroscience

The brain fascinates Hannah Block, as well as how much we do not know about it. “I’m interested in how the brain uses different kinds of sensory information to control movement,” Block said. When she is not doing her own research—designing experiments, solving problems, and figuring out new ways of doing things—she enjoys mentoring students and teaching them to “do good science.”

It was during her time in graduate school at John Hopkins University where she learned how important computer programming was, even in life sciences research. “As it turns out, to answer questions about brain function you need lots of technology and technical skills,” she said. “If I could go back and tell my undergrad self one course to take, it would definitely be computer science.”

Block thought speaking at October’s Faculty Salon was an interesting experience. “I think it’s great to have this venue where people from widely different fields can hear about your work,” she said. “New research ideas often come from new perspectives.”